BEIRUT: The Ethiopian domestic worker whose beating outside
her country's consulate was widely publicized on video committed suicide
Wednesday morning, Ethiopia’s consul general in Lebanon confirmed to The Daily
Star.
Alem Dechasa hanged herself using her bed sheets between 5
a.m. and 6 a.m., Ethiopian General Consul Asaminew Debelie Bonssa said doctors
told him. He spoke to The Daily Star while returning from the hospital
Psychiatrique de la Croix Hospital, known as Deir al-Salib. Police took her to
the hospital after the incident.
The video released by LBCI last week showed Dechasa moaning
as a man, later identified as Ali Mahfouz, beat her and forced her into a car.
According to Bonssa, the incident took place two weeks prior to its release.”
Mahfouz said Dechasa had previously attempted suicide.
Bonssa said he saw Dechasa Saturday and she appeared fine
and was making plans to return to her family. He said doctors told him they
checked on her at 5 a.m. this morning and when they returned at 6 a.m. she was
dead.
He said he did not know her age and had not seen her
passport given that she came into Lebanon through Sudan three years ago
illegally.
Bonssa said he was “deeply shocked” by the news.
The hospital declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.
No comments:
Post a Comment